Chapter 116: The Seduction

Ares’ expression didn’t change.

“That was a long time ago.”

The words landed bluntly. Scarlet’s lashes fluttered. The rejection stung more than she expected.

She studied his face carefully.

The man standing before her looked nothing like the quiet senior who once followed her around with unwavering devotion.

This Ares was distant and cold.

A dangerous thought crossed her mind.

Did my rejection cause him to change that much?

Scarlet’s smile deepened slightly, though her eyes sharpened.

“You’ve changed a lot.” She said looking hurt.

“People do,” Ares replied curtly.

He leaned one shoulder casually against the doorframe of his room, blocking the entrance without realizing it.

“What exactly is broken?”

“The hot water.”

Scarlet lifted a hand, gently touching his sleeve. Her fingers lingered there.

“For some reason, it won’t turn on.”

Ares glanced down at her hand.

The temperature in his gaze dropped another degree.

Scarlet noticed. But she didn’t pull away.

Instead, she tilted her head slightly, letting her hair fall over one shoulder.

“You wouldn’t leave me to shower in cold water, would you?”

Before Ares could answer—

A soft sound came from the door behind them.

A door clicked open. Both of them turned.

Lara had just stepped out of Shay’s room.

She was holding a small towel and a glass of water and was heading to Sandro’s room because he had asked for water earlier.

The moment her eyes landed on them, she stopped.

The hallway light cast a quiet glow over the scene.

Ares standing in his doorway in nothing but a robe…

Scarlet standing very close to him, in her revealing nightgown, her hand resting lightly on his arm.

For a brief moment, no one spoke.

Lara’s gaze lingered on Scarlet’s hand. Then it slowly moved up.

Her expression didn’t change.

If anything, it became calmer and more distant.

“Sorry,” Lara said quietly. “You can continue,”

Scarlet’s lips curved into a faint smile. Her hand did not move.

“Larissa,” Her voice was sweet. “We are just talking.”

Ares’ brows immediately furrowed.

He stepped slightly away from Scarlet, the movement subtle but unmistakable.

“We aren’t.”

Lara didn’t react. She simply gave a small nod.

“I see.”

Her tone was polite. Neutral.

That was what irritated Ares.

Why did she look so indifferent? Why wasn’t she angry? Why wasn’t she reacting at all?

Instead, she turned slightly toward Shay’s room again.

“Shay is asleep now. You don’t have to check on her tonight.”

Ares stared at her.

Something inside his chest tightened unexpectedly.

Scarlet noticed it. Her smile thinned almost imperceptibly.

Lara turned back and opened the door of the adjacent room.

She entered the room, and her footsteps were quiet. Unhurried.

As if nothing she had just seen mattered at all.

Ares suddenly spoke.

“Larissa.”

She stopped. But she didn’t turn around.

“Yes?”

For a moment, Ares didn’t know what he wanted to say.

Explain? Clarify? Why did he feel the need to?

Scarlet was still standing beside him.

Waiting and watching.

The silence stretched just long enough to become awkward.

Finally, Ares said, “It’s not what you think.”

Lara turned slightly, just enough that he could see the faint curve of her profile.

A small smile appeared on her lips. But it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Ares,” she said gently.

“I am not thinking of anything.”

The words were polite and respectful.

And somehow—

That made him feel like it was a slap. Then she closed the door.

The hallway fell silent again.

Ares stood there for several seconds. His expression slowly darkened.

Scarlet studied him carefully.

Then she laughed softly.

“So cold.”

Ares didn’t look at her.

“I’ll send someone to fix your shower. Goodnight, Scarlet.”

The meaning was clear. She was dismissed.

Scarlet’s smile faded.

For the first time that night, irritation flickered in her eyes. She turned and walked back toward her room.

But inside her chest, jealousy had already begun to burn.

Because for the first time… She realized something unsettling.

Ares didn’t look at her the way he used to.

But when Lara appeared, he couldn’t stop looking.

…

Lara descended the staircase slowly.

The house was quiet at that hour. The lights in the living room were dimmed, casting soft shadows across the polished floor and tall windows overlooking the garden.

She set the empty glass down in the kitchen sink and rinsed it calmly.

Her movements were steady and unhurried.

But the image from the hallway replayed in her mind with irritating clarity.

Scarlet’s hand resting on Ares’ arm.

The silk nightdress. The intimacy of the moment.

Lara turned off the faucet.

Not my business.

She dried the glass and placed it on the rack.

She had seen far more compromising scenes than that. Men with wives. Men with lovers. Men who swore loyalty one night and betrayal it the next morning.

Compared to those things, what she had just seen was nothing.

Still—

Something about it lingered in her chest like a faint thorn.

She exhaled quietly.

You’re overthinking.

She traced her steps back to the stairs that led to the second floor. Then she heard. It sounded behind her.

“Larissa.” His voice was low.

Lara paused. She turned around slowly.

Ares stood a few steps away, his dark robe loosely tied around his waist. His hair was still slightly damp from the shower, and a faint scent of soap followed him into the room.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The silence felt strangely charged.

“You should be resting,” Lara said calmly. “It’s late.”

Ares didn’t respond to that. His gaze remained fixed on her.

“It’s not what you think.”

There it was again. Lara tilted her head slightly.

“What do you think I think?”

Ares frowned.

That wasn’t the response he expected.

Lara crossed her arms lightly.

“You don’t need to explain your private matters to me, Ares.”

Her tone remained respectful but distant.

But the distance in it was unmistakable. Ares’ eyes darkened slightly.

“You saw her touch me.”

Lara gave a small shrug.

“People touch each other all the time.”

Her answer was so casual it almost sounded dismissive.

That irritated him.

Ares took a step closer.

“You really don’t care?”

Lara met his gaze. There was a brief pause before she answered.

“Should I?”

The question hung between them.

Ares didn’t immediately reply.

Because suddenly, he didn’t have a clear answer either.

Why should she care? She was his employee. Nothing more.

Yet something inside him felt unexpectedly unsettled.

Ares studied her face carefully, searching for something—anything—that might betray what she was truly thinking.

But Lara’s expression was composed. Almost too calm.

Finally, she spoke again.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll return to my room.”

She turned slightly to leave. Ares reached out instinctively.

His hand closed around her wrist.

The contact surprised both of them.

Lara froze.

Slowly, she looked down at his hand.

Then back up at him.

Ares also seemed to realize what he had done.

But he didn’t release her.

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